‘Séance’ a family affair

Schwartz & son team for opera

Composer Stephen Schwartz’s first opera, based on the 1964 film “Seance on a Wet Afternoon,” will be helmed by his son Scott in their first collaboration.

Schwartz pere is writing the work for Opera Santa Barbara, which commissioned the composer of “Wicked,” “Pippin” and “Godspell.” The production is not scheduled to bow until 2009.

Though the younger Schwartz helmed a non-Equity road production of his father’s “Godspell,” this effort will mark the first time the two are actively engaged on a new project together. Director Schwartz, 32, staged “Jane Eyre” on Broadway as well as Off Broadway’s “Bat Boy” and “tick … tick … boom.”

“Seance on a Wet Afternoon” is based on the Bryan Forbes film starring Kim Stanley and Richard Attenborough, which was adapted from Mark McShane’s novel about a crazed medium and her husband.